Greening Australia - Grassy Groundcover

The Grassy Groundcover Project (GGRP) was chosen as one of four finalists for a National Biodiversity Award (sponsored by DSE) at the UNAA World Environment Day Awards.

Victorian Grassland Restoration Voted World Class

A cross-Tasman expert panel announced the top 25 outstanding ecological restoration projects being undertaken in Australian and New Zealand.

The Grassy Groundcover Restoration Project, managed by Greening Australia, is included on this prestigious list.

“Like in so many other fields, there is world class ecological restoration in Australia and New Zealand," Craig Copeland, a member of the selection panel, said. “ and we wanted to showcase the very high-quality work going on in Australasia to provide examples for others to follow and to make a difficult job a little bit easier."

“We’re thrilled that the Grassy Groundcover Restoration Project was included as one of the top 25 outstanding ecological restoration projects being undertaken in Australian and New Zealand. This project is working to transform the wildflower grassland landscape of which the last 1% is on the brink of extinction in Victoria.” Project Manager, Paul Gibson Roy said. “Our project restores these grassland communities, in collaboration with landholders, to return non-productive agricultural land to the quality of the existing wildflower grassland remnants. The project has benefitted greatly from collaboration with landholders, conservation organisations, research students and community members across a large section of south western Victoria.”

For more information on the top 25 projects, please click here.

Restoring Grassy Groundcover

Plains Grassland and Grassy Woodland are among Australia’s most threatened vegetation communities. Once widespread throughout the south east of Victoria, these quintessentially Australian ecosystems have been cleared or severely modified due to their suitability for agriculture.

Weed invasion, increased nutrient levels and altered fire regimes have reduced native plant diversity in remaining pockets of this vegetation type. The magnitude of decline is recognized as a critical biodiversity issue at both state and federal levels.

Greening Australia Victoria is working hard to restore a diverse range of native groundcover species at sites across Victoria. Knowledge gained from restoration research undertaken at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus is informing this process. Thirteen one-hectare plots have been sown with a range of native grassland and grassy woodland species. Results of this project will guide future revegetation activities. Additionally, the direct-sown plots will provide an on-going resource of native seed so that endangered grasses can be sown as part of other Greening Australia revegetation projects.

Project Achievements

One-hectare plots have been direct-seeded with a range of native grassland and grassy woodland species at 13 sites throughout Victoria.
Monitoring and evaluation of plant establishment patterns will inform and guide future restoration activities.
The established plants will provide an ongoing source of seed for other revegetation initiatives.

Resource Toolkit

Try These Documents:

Grassy Groundcover Gazette (March 10)

Paul Gibson-RoyProject LeaderEmail

Paul Gibson-Roy talks on local radio in the lead up to Governor de Kretser's visit to a GGRP trial site

Listen here

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